Islamabad: Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani Government to stop the progression of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) Amendment Bill 2024, citing its non-compliance with international human rights laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Overview of the Proposed Bill
The government introduced the bill in the National Assembly last month, granting military and civil armed forces sweeping powers to detain individuals facing terrorism charges for up to three months under “preventive detention.” The Deputy Speaker, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, immediately forwarded the bill for committee review after Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled it during a sparsely attended session.
The amendment also seeks to establish Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs) comprising personnel from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies to conduct investigations into terrorism-related offenses.
Amnesty’s Concerns
Amnesty International, through a letter addressed to Law Minister Tarar by Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Babu Ram Pant, expressed grave concerns over the proposed bill. It noted that the legislation would grant broad discretionary powers to military and civil armed forces, including the authority to detain individuals suspected of offenses related to Pakistan’s security, public order, or essential services.
The letter warned that such provisions would facilitate arbitrary detentions, undermine legal safeguards, and increase the risk of human rights violations, particularly by involving military forces in law enforcement without proper management or adherence to human rights standards.
“In exceptional circumstances where the military supports civilian law enforcement, they must remain under civilian command and comply with international human rights standards,” the letter emphasized, adding that the proposed amendments fail to ensure such safeguards.
Impact on Human Rights
The ATA has drawn international criticism during Pakistan’s ICCPR review at the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Amnesty highlighted concerns over the disproportionate use of anti-terrorism laws against human rights defenders, journalists, ethnic minorities, political dissidents, and activists.
The proposed amendments, Amnesty argued, would expand authorities’ powers to suppress peaceful dissent, further enabling arbitrary detention and misuse of the law. Notably, Amnesty referenced past cases where such legislation had been used to target political opponents and human rights defenders, including supporters of opposition political parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Lack of Consultation
The rights group expressed concern over the absence of engagement with civil society, especially human rights organizations, in the bill’s drafting process. It pointed out a troubling trend of legislation being rushed through Parliament without sufficient debate or consideration of human rights implications.
Amnesty’s Recommendations
Amnesty International urged the government to withdraw the ATA Amendment Bill and engage with civil society in meaningful consultations to reform Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws comprehensively. The reforms should aim to align the legislation with international human rights laws and standards, ensuring protections against abuse and misuse.
Conclusion
Amnesty International’s call highlights significant concerns about the implications of the proposed ATA Amendment Bill 2024. The organization’s emphasis on meaningful reform and compliance with global human rights norms underscores the need for a balanced approach to combating terrorism without infringing on fundamental rights. Whether the government heeds these recommendations will shape Pakistan’s commitment to upholding human rights and rule of law in its anti-terrorism efforts.
